Associating an online publication with a print publication

ABSTRACT

This document discusses, among other things, a system and methods for associating an online publication with a print publication. Example embodiments may include receiving a request from a publisher that may identify first data that is to be published over a network, in an online publication. In response to the request, example embodiments may include fetching the first data and generating further data based on the first data. The further data may include an address to locate the online publication as published. The publisher may be allowed to publish the further data as a print publication. Subsequent to the print publication of the further data, example embodiments may include receiving the string of characters over the network from a user. Example embodiments may include presenting the online publication to the user based on the string of characters.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of and claims the benefit of priorityto U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/081,555, filed Nov. 15, 2013,which is a continuation of and claims the benefit of priority under toU.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/964,922, filed on Dec. 27, 2007,which claims the benefit of priority under to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/014,434, filed Dec. 17, 2007, each of which ishereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This patent document pertains generally to online publications and moreparticularly, but not by way of limitation, to a system and methods forassociating an online publication with a print publication.

BACKGROUND

Subject matter may be published online and made available to users of acomputer network. The same or different subject matter may be publishedin print (e.g., printed on paper).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numeralsdescribe substantially similar components throughout the several views.Like numerals having different letter suffixes represent differentinstances of substantially similar components. The drawings illustrategenerally, by way of example, but not by way of limitation, variousembodiments discussed in the present document.

FIGS. 1A and 1B depict a mock interface for an example onlinepublication, in accordance with an example embodiment;

FIG. 2 is an example print publication based on an online publication,in accordance with an example embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a network diagram depicting a client-server system, withinwhich one example embodiment may be deployed;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating multiple applications that, in anexample embodiment, are provided as part of the networked system;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example print publicationapplication, in accordance with an example embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a high-level entity-relationship diagram, illustrating varioustables, in accordance with an example embodiment;

FIG. 7 shows a table providing further details regarding a publicationmapping table, in accordance with an example embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for associating an onlinepublication with a print publication, in accordance with an exampleembodiment;

FIG. 9 is a mock interface showing an example browser interface with atext box, in accordance with an example embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a mock interface showing a further example browser interfacewith a results window, in accordance with an example embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for associating anonline publication with a publisher of a print publication, inaccordance with an example embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a mock interface showing an example browser interfaceincluding an identity entry form, in accordance with an exampleembodiment;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram that shows example sub-divisions including auniform resource locator (URL), in accordance with an exampleembodiment;

FIG. 14 is an image that shows an example bar code, in accordance withan example embodiment; and

FIG. 15 shows a diagrammatic representation of machine in the exampleform of a computer system, in accordance with an example embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Overview

Example embodiments may allow a publisher to generate a printpublication that is based on information suitable for an onlinepublication. The print publication may be posted in a public place otherthan the Internet to be observed by members of the public. An exampleprint publication includes a URL that may be used to access the onlinepublication.

An online publication system may include an electronic online auctionsystem. Example embodiments provide for encoding the identity of thepublisher within a unique URL that maps to a further URL for the onlinepublication. The online auction system may track transaction activityrelated to online publications arrived at via the unique URL. In variousexample embodiments, publishers of the printed publications (e.g.,affiliates) are compensated for certain transactions associated with theprinted publication generated by the publisher.

This overview is intended to provide an overview of the subject matterof the present patent application. It is not intended to provide anexclusive or exhaustive explanation of what is claimed. The exampleembodiments are included to provide further information about thesubject matter of the present patent application.

EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

The following detailed description includes references to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part of the detailed description.The drawings show illustrations in accordance with example embodiments.These embodiments, which are also referred to herein as “examples,” aredescribed in enough detail to enable those skilled in the art topractice the invention. The embodiments may be combined, otherembodiments may be utilized, or structural, logical and electricalchanges may be made without departing from the scope what is claimed.The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in alimiting sense, and the scope is defined by the appended claims andtheir equivalents.

In this document, the terms “a” or “an” are used, as is common in patentdocuments, to include one or more than one. In this document, the term“or” is used to refer to a nonexclusive or, such that “A or B” includes“A but not B,” “B but not A,” and “A and B,” unless otherwise indicated.Furthermore, all publications, patents, and patent documents referred toin this document are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety,as though individually incorporated by reference. In the event ofinconsistent usages between this document and those documents soincorporated by reference, the usage in the incorporated reference(s)should be considered supplementary to that of this document; forirreconcilable inconsistencies, the usage in this document controls.

FIG. 1 is a mock interface illustrating an example online publication100, in accordance with an example embodiment. As will be described inmore detail below, information in the example online publication 100 maybe used to derive a print publication (see discussion of FIG. 2 below)that can be distributed or otherwise published, such as to the public;and which will include a string of characters that may be used to accessthe online publication.

The example online publication 100 may be presented via the Internet andis shown to be located at a web address 102 (e.g., the onlinepublication may be found athttp://www.onlinepublication.com/ali_liston_poster.htm). Of course, anyInternet address may be used to address an example online publicationbut in an example embodiment, particular Internet addresses correspondto different online publications. As will be discussed below, the onlinepublication may be displayed by web browser software running on thecomputer of a user.

In general, an online publication (e.g., the online publication 100) mayinclude any subject matter and may be used to convey information aboutthe subject matter for any reason. The online publications of thepresent application may be used in conjunction with different categoriesof publications. For example, online publications may facilitateelectronic markets associated with the sale of goods, information (e.g.,digital content, electronic documents) and/or services. Electroniccommerce systems may use different price setting mechanisms. One exampleprice setting mechanism is an auction; another is a fixed price market.Alternatively or additionally, the online publications may be associatedwith free goods, information and/or services. Subject matter may includean electronic document and related information may be published so thatthe electronic document may be found by a searcher on the Internet.

In an example embodiment, the subject matter of the online publication100 is a poster (pictured at 108) and information about the poster ispublished as part of an online auction. The online publication 100 forthe online auction will include several types of auction informationabout the subject matter of the auction. In many example embodiments,such as the auction listing of online publication 100, the auctioninformation may include: item information 106 providing informationabout the subject matter of the auction; seller information 110providing information regarding the auction seller; and purchaseinformation 118 regarding the terms of auction, such as the pertinentcurrency, payment methods, etc.

Item information will typically include an auction date 114 for theauction and at least a title 104 providing a textual description of thesubject matter (e.g., the goods, information and/or services) of theonline publication 100. The example online publication is titled:“Muhammad Ali Vs. Sonny Liston Framed Boxing Poster” 104. The iteminformation of the example online publication 100 is shown to includedigital content 108 related to the poster being auctioned. The digitalcontent may include a photo, image, video, or other rich mediaassociated with the subject matter of the online publication.

Such item information may also include a lot number 116 related to theitem and an additional description 112 of FIG. 1B. FIG. 1B is acontinuation of the mock-up interface in FIG. 1. In an exampleembodiment, the description section 112 includes one or more enlargeableimages 140 of an item and a narrative description 142 of the item andmay further include manufacturer specifications, shipping information,or any other descriptive information associated with the item 144.

The example online publication 100 purchase information is shown toinclude an auction starting price 120, and the currency used in theauction 122.

The example online publication 100 is further shown to include sellerinformation 110. Seller information 110 may include hyperlinks toinformation that may be of interest to a potential buyer (e.g.,information about the seller's reputation as a seller), a link to otheritems that seller is currently selling or other relevant information.

It is to be appreciated that a purpose of the online publication maydetermine the content of the online publication. For, example, onlinepublications for electronic commerce (e.g., having price setting modessuch as auction or fixed price) may include information about a seller.Online publications associated with free goods, information and/orservices may not include information about a seller.

FIG. 2 is an example print publication 200 based on information withinthe online publication 100, in accordance with an example embodiment.Much like the online publication, the print publication 200 may includeany kind of subject matter and may be used to convey information aboutthe subject matter to achieve any particular end. Various example printpublications 200 are to be posted in a public place other than theInternet to advertise the subject matter of the print publication 200.

The print publication 200 is shown to include a title 204, item andpurchase information 206 and the image 208 that may be substantiallysimilar to those features described with respect to FIG. 1. The exampleprint publication may further include a description 212 of the posterthat is to be auctioned.

The example print publication 200 is shown to include multiplesub-divisions 220. Each sub-division 220 may be outlined with dottedlines to mark the borders 222 of each sub-division 220. In an exampleembodiment, each of the sub-divisions 220 is meant to be removable fromthe body of the print publication 200; and thus the sub-divisions may beperforated or at least partially separated to facilitate the readyremoval of each sub-division from the others and from the remainder ofthe print publication. The body of the print publication may include allof the print publication 200 other than the sub-divisions 220.

Each sub-division 220 of the print publication 200 is shown to include atitle 224 and an address 226 as shown in each of the examplesub-divisions. Each address 226 may be associated with the onlinepublication 100 and/or a publisher of the printed publication 200.

FIG. 3 is a network diagram depicting a client-server system 300, withinwhich one example embodiment may be deployed. A networked system 302, inthe example forms of a network-based marketplace or publication system,provides server-side functionality, via a network 304 (e.g., theInternet or Wide Area Network (WAN)) to one or more clients. FIG. 3illustrates, for example, a web client 306 (e.g., a browser, such as theInternet Explorer browser developed by Microsoft Corporation of Redmond,Wash. State), and a programmatic client 308 executing on respectiveclient machines 310 and 312.

An Application Program Interface (API) server 314 and a web server 316are coupled to, and provide programmatic and web interfaces respectivelyto, one or more application servers 318. The application servers 318host one or more marketplace applications 320 and payment applications322. The application servers 318 are, in turn, shown to be coupled toone or more databases servers 324 that facilitate access to one or moredatabases 326.

The marketplace applications 320 may provide a number of marketplacefunctions and services to users that access the networked system 302.The marketplace applications 320 may for example include one or moreapplications to generate online applications and print publicationsassociated with certain subject matter. The transaction applications 322may likewise provide a number of payment services and functions tousers. The transaction applications 322 may allow users to accumulatevalue (e.g., in a commercial currency, such as the U.S. dollar, or aproprietary currency, such as “points”) in accounts, and then later toredeem the accumulated value for products (e.g., goods or services) thatare made available via the marketplace applications 320. While themarketplace and transaction applications 320 and 322 are shown in FIG. 3to both form part of the networked system 302, it will be appreciatedthat, in alternative embodiments, the transaction applications 322 mayform part of a transaction service that is separate and distinct fromthe networked system 302.

Further, while the system 300 shown in FIG. 3 employs client-serverarchitecture, the present invention is of course not limited to sucharchitecture, and could equally well find application in a distributed,or peer-to-peer, architecture system, for example. The variousmarketplace and payment applications 320 and 322 could also beimplemented as standalone software programs, which do not necessarilyhave networking capabilities.

The web client 306 accesses the various marketplace and transactionapplications 320 and 322 via the web interface supported by the webserver 316. In some example embodiments, a publisher may use the webclient 306 of the client machine 310 to initiate the generation ofinformation to be published in a print publication pertaining to aparticular subject matter. Users may also use a web client such as theweb client 306 to interact with online publications made available bythe networked system 302.

Similarly, the programmatic client 308 accesses the various services andfunctions provided by the marketplace and payment applications 320 and322 via the programmatic interface provided by the API server 314. Theprogrammatic client 308 may, for example, be a seller application (e.g.,the TurboLister application developed by eBay Inc., of San Jose, Calif.)to enable sellers to author and manage listings on the networked system302 in an off-line manner, and to perform batch-mode communicationsbetween the programmatic client 308 and the networked system 302.

FIG. 3 also illustrates a third party application 328, executing on athird party server machine 330, as having programmatic access to thenetworked system 302 via the programmatic interface provided by the APIserver 314. For example, the third party application 328 may, utilizinginformation retrieved from the networked system 302, support one or morefeatures or functions on a website hosted by the third party. The thirdparty website may, for example, provide one or more promotional,marketplace or payment functions that are supported by the relevantapplications of the networked system 302.

Marketplace Applications

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating multiple applications 320 and 322that, in an example embodiment, are provided as part of the networkedsystem 302. The applications 320 may be hosted on dedicated or sharedserver machines (not shown) that are communicatively coupled to enablecommunications between server machines. The applications themselves arecommunicatively coupled (e.g., via appropriate interfaces) to each otherand to various data sources, so as to allow information to be passedbetween the applications or so as to allow the applications to share andaccess common data. The applications may furthermore access one or moredatabases 326 via the database servers 328.

The networked system 302 may provide a number of publishing, listing andprice-setting mechanisms whereby a seller may list (or e.g., publishinformation concerning) goods or services for sale, a buyer can expressinterest in or indicate a desire to purchase such goods or services, anda price can be set for a transaction pertaining to the goods orservices. To this end, the marketplace applications 320 are shown toinclude at least one online publication application 400 and one or moreauction applications 402 which support auction-format listing and pricesetting mechanisms (e.g., English, Dutch, Vickrey, Chinese, Double,Reverse auctions etc.).

The online publication application(s) 408 may locate and arrangeinformation (e.g., listing information) to present online publicationsto web clients (e.g., the web client 306). The various auctionapplications 402 may also provide a number of features in support ofsuch auction-format listings, such as a reserve price feature whereby aseller may specify a reserve price in connection with a listing and aproxy-bidding feature whereby a bidder may invoke automated proxybidding. It is to be appreciated that other price setting mechanisms(e.g., a fixed price mechanism) may be used in example embodiments.

Navigation of the networked system 302 may be facilitated by one or morenavigation applications 414. For example, a search application (as anexample of a navigation application) may enable key word searches oflistings published via the networked system 302. A browse applicationmay allow users to browse various category, catalogue, or inventory datastructures according to which listings may be classified within thenetworked system 302. Various other navigation applications may beprovided to supplement the search and browsing applications.

In order to make listings, available via the networked system 302, asvisually informing and as attractive as possible, the marketplaceapplications 320 may include one or more imaging applications 416utilizing which users may upload images for inclusion within listings.An imaging application 416 also operates to incorporate images withinviewed listings. The imaging applications 416 may also support one ormore promotional features, such as image galleries that are presented topotential buyers. For example, sellers may pay an additional fee to havean image included within a gallery of images for promoted items.

Listing creation applications 418 allow sellers conveniently to authorlistings pertaining to goods or services that they wish to transact viathe networked system 302.

Messaging applications 428 are responsible for the generation anddelivery of messages to users of the networked system 302, such messagesfor example advising users regarding the status of listings at thenetworked system 302 (e.g., providing “outbid” notices to bidders duringan auction process or to provide promotional and merchandisinginformation to users). Respective messaging applications 428 may utilizeany one of a number of message delivery networks and platforms todeliver messages to users. For example, messaging applications 428 maydeliver electronic mail (e-mail), instant message (IM), Short MessageService (SMS), text, facsimile, or voice (e.g., Voice over IP (VoIP))messages via the wired (e.g., the Internet), Plain Old Telephone Service(POTS), or wireless (e.g., mobile, cellular, WiFi, WiMAX) networks.

Merchandising applications 430 support various merchandising functionsthat are made available to sellers to enable sellers to increase salesvia the networked system 302. The merchandising applications 430 alsooperate the various merchandising features that may be invoked bysellers, and may monitor and track the success of merchandisingstrategies employed by sellers.

Print publication applications 434 may support the generation ofinformation to be published in print in a location other than an addresson the Internet. The information may be based on subject matter of anonline publication hosted by the networked system 302. A third party(e.g., an affiliate, generating sales on behalf of the seller for acommission) may interact with the print publication application 434 (viathe networked system 302) to generate a print publication that can beused to direct a potential buyer to the online publication. In anexample embodiment, the print publication applications 434 cooperateswith the online publication applications 408, affiliate application 436and other applications in a fashion described in more detail below.

The affiliate applications 436 may quantify transactions and commissionsassociated with affiliates of the seller. In example embodiments, theaffiliate applications 436 calculates compensation to be paid to anaffiliate in exchange for the affiliate initiating a sale of an itemfeatured in an online publication. Some example affiliate applications436 credit an affiliate for an item sale resulting from the posting of aprint publication (e.g., the print publication 200).

FIG. 5 is a block diagram 500 illustrating an example print publicationapplication 534, in accordance with an example embodiment. The printpublication application 534 is shown to include the modules 510, 512,514, 516 and 518, each to be described in operation below. In general,the modules may be operative to implement various algorithms and/orlogical configurations in furtherance of the print publicationapplication's 534 functionality. It is to be noted that each “module”may be implemented with hardware, software or a combination of hardwareand software.

In various example embodiments one or more of the modules 510, 512, 514,516 and 518 are implemented by electronic circuitry in a computer systemsuch as the computer system 1500 of FIG. 15 that is discussed in moredetail below. The electronic circuitry may be a hardwired implementationof instructions that correspond to one or more algorithms to provide thefunctionality of the modules described herein. One form of electroniccircuitry includes a configurable integrated circuit. One type ofintegrated circuit includes an application specific integrated circuit(ASIC) that is typically designed to perform a limited set of particularfunctions.

In some example embodiments, one or more of the modules 510, 512, 514,516 and 518 are implemented by instructions (e.g., the instructions1524) that are executed by a computer processor (e.g., the computerprocessor 1502). The instructions (e.g., the instructions 1524) may bestored in a computer readable medium (e.g., the computer readable medium1522).

In example embodiments, one or more of the modules 510, 512, 514, 516and 518 are implemented by a both software instructions executed by aprocessor and by electronic circuitry implementing a logicalconfiguration to provide the module's or modules' functionality.

Data Structures

FIG. 6 is a high-level entity-relationship diagram, illustrating varioustables 600 that may be maintained within the databases 326, and that areutilized by and support the applications 320 and 322. A user table 602contains a record for each registered user of the networked system 302,and may include identifier, address and financial instrument informationpertaining to each such registered user. A user may operate as a seller,a buyer, or both, within the networked system 302. In one exampleembodiment, a buyer may be a user that has accumulated value (e.g.,commercial or proprietary currency), and is accordingly able to exchangethe accumulated value for items that are offered for sale by thenetworked system 302.

The tables 600 also include an items table 604 in which are maintaineditem records for goods and services that are available to be, or havebeen, transacted via the networked system 302. Each item record withinthe items table 604 may furthermore be linked to one or more userrecords within the user table 602, so as to associate a seller and oneor more actual or potential buyers with each item record.

A transaction table 606 contains a record for each transaction (e.g., apurchase or sale transaction) pertaining to items for which recordsexist within the items table 604.

An order table 608 is populated with order records, each order recordbeing associated with an order. Each order, in turn, may be with respectto one or more transactions for which records exist within thetransaction table 606.

Bid records within a bids table 610 each relate to a bid received at thenetworked system 302 in connection with an auction-format listingsupported by an auction application 402. A history table 614 maintains ahistory of transactions to which a user has been a party. One or moreattributes tables 616 record attribute information pertaining to itemsfor which records exist within the items table 604. Considering only asingle example of such an attribute, the attributes tables 616 mayindicate a currency attribute associated with a particular item, thecurrency attribute identifying the currency of a price for the relevantitem as specified in by a seller.

Publication mapping table 618 may include an association between astring of characters provided with a print publication (e.g., FIG. 2), aweb address of an online publication (e.g., the online publication 100of FIG. 1) and a publisher identifier that identifies the publisher ofthe print publication. In an example embodiment, the data generator 514of FIG. 5 populates the publication mapping table 618 and thepublication mapper 518 may access the publication mapping table 618.

FIG. 7 shows a table 700 providing further details regarding thepublication mapping table 618 that is to be maintained within thedatabases 326. The example table 618 is shown to include a string column702 for the string of characters provided within a print publication.The online publication address column 706 may be for indicating anonline publication address associated with the string of characters incolumn 702. The publisher identifier column 708 is accordingly for apublisher identifier, if any, associated with the string and the onlinepublication.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating a method 800 for associating anonline publication with a print publication, in accordance with anexample embodiment. At block 802, the method may include a publisherrequesting data (e.g., first data) including content that is to bepublished in an online publication at an online publication address.

FIG. 9 is a mock interface showing an example browser interface 900including a text box, in accordance with an example embodiment. Thepublisher referenced in block 802 may enter a search term (e.g.,“posters”) into the text box 902 and hit return to receive the resultsof the search. The navigation application(s) 414 may receive the searchterm and access the items table 604 to find items in the databases 326associated with the search term. In some example embodiments, thenavigation applications may query the online publication application(s)408 for listings associated with the search term.

FIG. 10 is a mock interface showing a further browser interface 1000with a results window, in accordance with an example embodiment. Thebrowser interface 1000 may include a set of search results for thesearch described above. The imaging application(s) 416 and/or thenavigation applications 414 may retrieve images from the databases 326to include with the search results. In an example embodiment, the searchresults may include an image of the poster 1004. The publisher mayinteract with the image of the poster 1004 (e.g., by clicking on theimage) to submit the request for data (e.g., first data) that is to bepublished via the network 304 as an online publication 100.

The network interface 510 of FIG. 5 may be coupled to a web server(e.g., the web server 316) hosting the web pages described with respectto FIGS. 9 and 10. Thus, the network interface 510 may receive from apublisher, via a browser interface 1000, the request that identifies thedata to be included in the online publication.

At block 804, the method 800 may include obtaining the data (e.g., thefirst data) in response to the request from the publisher. In FIG. 500,the data fetcher 512 may receive the request from the network interface510 and fetch the data (e.g., the first data) in response to therequest. In some embodiments, the data fetcher 512 fetches the data viathe online publication application(s) 408 and/or the items table 604.

At block 806, the method 800 may include automatically generatingfurther data (e.g., second data) based on the data (e.g., the firstdata). The further data may include some or all of the content that isto be published in the online publication. The further data may alsoinclude a string of characters that does not include the onlinepublication address but may be used to locate the online publication onthe network. In various example embodiments, the data generator 514 mayreceive the data (e.g., the first data) from the data fetcher 512 andautomatically generate the further data (e.g., second data) based on thedata (e.g., first data).

The example rendering module 516 may receive the further data from thedata generator 514 and render the further data to provide to thepublisher and allow the publisher to publish the further data as a printpublication. The string of characters within the further data is to beavailable to the user and may facilitate access to the onlinepublication. The rendering module 516 may provide the further data tothe publisher via the web server 316. In an example embodiment, thefurther data is rendered as portable document file (PDF).

At block 808, the method 800 may include the publisher generating aprint publication to publish the further (e.g., the second) data.

In some example embodiments, the rendering module 516 may render thefurther data to provide to the publisher, a printable electronicdocument such as the printable document 200 with multiple removablesub-divisions 220 each including the aforementioned string ofcharacters. Each of the sub-divisions 220 may be detachable from thedocument once printed (e.g., on paper). The further data included withinthe print publication may include a title, a keyword, a price or an itemdescription, or any other publication data, etc. In various exampleembodiments, the publisher may post the printed publication 200 in alocation where people can see it and remove a sub-division to take away.If one were to find the subject matter of the printed publicationinteresting, he or she may remove one of the removable sub-divisions 220that may include a URL (e.g., the address 226) leading to an onlinepublication (e.g., the online publication 100) featuring the subjectmatter.

At block 810, the recipient of the print publication (e.g., a user orpotential buyer, etc.) may submit the string of characters includedwithin the print publication. An example form of submitting the addressmay be to enter a URL (e.g., the address 226) including the string ofcharacters and printed on the sub-division into an address bar of abrowser interface (e.g., the address bar 102). The address maycorrespond to a web page provided by the web server 316.

At block 814, the method 800 may include receiving the string ofcharacters from a user, via the network and based on the string ofcharacters, presenting the online publication to the user. In FIG. 500,the publication identifier 520 may receive the string of characters fromthe user via the network 304 and cause online publication application(e.g., the online publication application(s) 408) to automaticallyprovide, via the web server (e.g., the web server 3016) the onlinepublication to the user based on the string of characters.

At block 814, the user may receive the online publication from the webserver 316 for viewing on a web browser (e.g., the web client 306). Inan example embodiment, the online publication may include data (e.g.,first data) that includes a content or a listing for an item for sale orany other publication data.

Subsequent to viewing the online publication, the user or some otheruser may interact with the online publication to initiate a transactionassociated with the subject matter of the online publication. In anexample embodiment, a transaction application (e.g., the transactionapplication 322) may be coupled to the web server 408 and may facilitatesuch a transaction.

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for associating a stringof characters with an online publication address and a publisher of aprint publication. Aside from receiving information linking a printpublication 200 with an online publication 100, the networked system 304may receive information linking a publisher to the print publication200.

In Block 1102, the method 1100 may include the publisher providing tothe networked system 304, a publisher identifier identifying thepublisher of the print publication. FIG. 12 is a mock interface showingan example browser interface 1200 with publisher identifier entry form,in accordance with an example embodiment. A publisher may navigate tothis web page from a print publication preview page (not shown). In anexample embodiment, the publisher may provide the publisher identifierby entering an affiliate identification (AID) 1202 and/or a publicationidentification (PID) 1204 and then clicking one of the print buttons1206. An AID may identify the publisher of a print publication while thepublication identification may identify that the publication is to be aprint publication.

At block 1104, the networked system 304 may receive the publisheridentifier (e.g., at the network interface 510) and automaticallygenerate (e.g. the data generator 514 may generate) the further data(e.g., second data generated based on first data) including encoding thethe publisher identifier in the string of characters.

At block 1106, the method 1100 may include populating a data structure(e.g., the publication mapping table 618 within the database 326) basedon the further data to associate the string of characters with an onlinepublication (e.g., including the first data) and the publisheridentifier.

In various example embodiments, the data generator 514 generates a URLincluding the string of characters that encodes the online publicationaddress and the publisher identifier (e.g., the AID and/or the PID).FIG. 13 is a block diagram that shows example sub-divisions (e.g.,selected from the sub-divisions 220) including the URL 1302 thatincludes the string of characters “j2lbw”. In an example embodiment“j2lbw” may map to the address of the online publication and identifythe publisher of the print publication.

In some example embodiments, the data generator 514 may generate thefurther data as a bar code that encodes the URL. FIG. 14 is an imagethat shows an example bar code 1400, in accordance with an exampleembodiment. The example bar code 1400 may encode the information encodedwithin each URL 1302. A mobile phone (not shown) for example, may havean ability to capture an image of the example bar code and extractinformation encoded within the bar code 1400. Some mobile phones may usethe information to interact with the online publication from the mobilephone.

At blocks 1108 the method 1100 may include providing the further data tothe publisher to allow for publication as a print publication. At block1110 the publisher may generate the print publication.

At block 1112, a user or potential customer having knowledge of thestring of characters 1302 (e.g., the string of characters and thepublisher identifier included within the print publication) may submitthem to the networked system 302.

Block 1114 of the method 1100 may include accessing one or more datastructures to determine the online publication address and thepublisher. In an example embodiment, the publication mapper 518 accessesthe data structure (e.g., the publication mapping table) 618 to map thestring of characters to the online publication address and the publisheridentifier. In an example embodiment, the string of characterscorresponds i to a further URL including a web address of the onlinepublication. Likewise, the publisher identifier (e.g., the AID and PID)may correspond to a particular publisher and the type of publication.

For example, the string of characters and the publisher identifier maybe encoded within the URL:

-   -   http://flyer.com/ABCD,    -   that may be mapped via data structure to the URL:    -   http://onlineauction.com/ws/102345&PID=123&PID=456

In the above mapping of URLs, the “ABCD” represents the string ofcharacters. The “http://onlineauction.com/ws/102345” portion representsthe address of the online publication and the “&PID=123&AID=456” portionrepresents a publication type and publisher identifier information. Inan example embodiment, corresponding values are found in the same row ofthe publication mapping table 618.

At block 1116, the method 1100 may include detecting a transactionassociated with the online publication and detecting a transaction typeof the transaction. After detecting a transaction and transaction typeassociated with a particular online publication, the affiliateapplication 436 may associate the online publication with the printedpublication and the publisher of the printed publication.

In an example embodiment, once it has been determined that an AID hasbeen entered by a publisher (see block 1114), the affiliate application436 may be notified by one or more of the identifier modules 518, 520.In some embodiments, the affiliate application may insert a cookie intothe user's or customer's browser application to track the user'sinteractions with the online publication.

In various example embodiments, the affiliate application 436 may detecttransactions processed by the transaction applications 322 and may querythe publication mapper 518 to determine whether any publishers ofprinted publications are associate with a detected transactionassociated with online publication. In some example embodiments, theaffiliate application 436 may directly access one or more of the firstand second data structures 618, 620 to determine whether any publishersor printed publications are associated with a particular onlinepublication.

At block 1118, the method 1100 may include (e.g., the affiliateapplications 436) compensating the publisher based on the detectedtransaction type. The affiliate application 436 may detect that thetransaction type is a sale, an account registration or any othertransaction that warrants providing compensation. In some exampleembodiments, the affiliate application 436 may trigger the transactionapplication 322 to pay a higher compensation for the sale transactionthan for the account registration transaction.

FIG. 15 shows a diagrammatic representation of machine in the exampleform of a computer system 1500 within which a set of instructions, forcausing the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologiesdiscussed herein, may be executed. In alternative embodiments, themachine operates as a standalone device or may be connected (e.g.,networked) to other machines. In a networked deployment, the machine mayoperate in the capacity of a server or a client machine in server-clientnetwork environment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (ordistributed) network environment. The machine may be a server computer,a client computer, a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box(STB), a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone, a webappliance, a network router, switch or bridge, or any machine capable ofexecuting a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specifyactions to be taken by that machine. Further, while only a singlemachine is illustrated, the term “machine” shall also be taken toinclude any collection of machines that individually or jointly executea set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more ofthe methodologies discussed herein.

The example computer system 1500 includes a processor 1502 (e.g., acentral processing unit (CPU) a graphics processing unit (GPU) or both),a main memory 1504 and a static memory 1506, which communicate with eachother via a bus 1508. The computer system 1500 may further include avideo display unit 1510 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) or acathode ray tube (CRT)). The computer system 1500 also includes analphanumeric input device 1512 (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor controldevice 1514 (e.g., a mouse), a disk drive unit 1516, a signal generationdevice 1518 (e.g., a speaker) and a network interface device 1520.

The disk drive unit 1516 includes a machine-readable medium 1522 onwhich is stored one or more sets of instructions (e.g., software 1524)embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions describedherein. The software 1524 may also reside, completely or at leastpartially, within the main memory 1504 and/or within the processor 1502during execution thereof by the computer system 1500, the main memory1504 and the processor 1502 also constituting machine-readable media.

The software 1524 may further be transmitted or received over a network1526 via the network interface device 1520.

While the machine-readable medium 1522 is shown in an example embodimentto be a single medium, the term “machine-readable medium” should betaken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralizedor distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) thatstore the one or more sets of instructions. The term “machine-readablemedium” shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable ofstoring, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by themachine and that cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethodologies of the present invention. The term “machine-readablemedium” shall accordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to,solid-state memories, optical and magnetic media, and carrier wavesignals.

The above description is intended to be illustrative, and notrestrictive. For example, the above-described embodiments (or one ormore aspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. Otherembodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewingthe above description. The scope of the claims should, therefore, bedetermined with reference to the appended claims, along with the fullscope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. In the appendedclaims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as theplain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and“wherein.” Also, in the following claims, the terms “including” and“comprising” are open-ended, that is, a system, device, article, orprocess that includes elements in addition to those listed after such aterm in a claim are still deemed to fall within the scope of that claim.Moreover, in the following claims, the terms “first,” “second,” and“third,” etc. are used merely as labels, and are not intended to imposenumerical requirements on their objects.

The Abstract is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. § 1.72(b), whichrequires that it allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of thetechnical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that itwill not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of theclaims. Also, in the above Detailed Description, various features may begrouped together to streamline the disclosure. This should not beinterpreted as intending that an unclaimed disclosed feature isessential to any claim. Rather, inventive subject matter may lie in lessthan all features of a particular disclosed embodiment. Thus, thefollowing claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description,with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment.

1. (canceled)
 2. A computer implemented method comprising: receiving, bya computer processor, a publication request that identifies content tobe published in an online publication; generating, by the computerprocessor, a scannable code that encodes a network address for theonline publication; transmitting the scannable code to a publisher;receiving, from a user device, a retrieval request comprising thenetwork address corresponding to the scannable code; and causing, by thecomputer processor, presentation of the online publication by the userdevice based at least in part on the retrieval request.
 3. The method ofclaim 2, wherein receiving the retrieval request comprises: receivingthe retrieval request comprising the network address that comprises astring of characters; and mapping the string of characters to a secondnetwork address, wherein causing presentation of the online publicationby the user device is based at least in part on the second networkaddress.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein transmitting the scannablecode to the publisher comprises: transmitting the scannable code to thepublisher along with an instruction to generate a print publication thatcomprises at least a portion of the content and the scannable code. 5.The method of claim 2, further comprising: detecting a transactionassociated with the online publication; and compensating the publisherbased at least in part on the transaction.
 6. The method of claim 5,wherein compensating the publisher comprises: compensating the publisherbased at least in part on the transaction being a sale transaction or anaccount registration transaction.
 7. The method of claim 6, furthercomprising: compensating the publisher a higher compensation for thesale transaction than for the account registration transaction.
 8. Themethod of claim 2, wherein the content comprises an item listing thatincludes at least one of a title, a keyword, a sales price, and an itemdescription.
 9. The method of claim 2, wherein the scannable codecomprises a barcode.
 10. A system, comprising: a processor; and anon-transitory machine-readable storage medium coupled to the processor,the non-transitory machine-readable storage medium includinginstructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system toperform operations comprising: receiving a publication request thatidentifies content to be published in an online publication; generatinga scannable code that encodes a network address for the onlinepublication; transmitting the scannable code to a publisher; receiving,from a user device, a retrieval request comprising the network addresscorresponding to the scannable code; and causing presentation of theonline publication by the user device based at least in part on theretrieval request.
 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the instructionsto receive the retrieval request, when executed, further cause thesystem to perform operations comprising: receiving the retrieval requestcomprising the network address that comprises a string of characters;and mapping the string of characters to a second network address,wherein causing presentation of the online publication by the userdevice is based at least in part on the second network address.
 12. Thesystem of claim 10, wherein the instructions to transmit the scannablecode to the publisher, when executed, further cause the system toperform operations comprising: transmitting the scannable code to thepublisher along with an instruction to generate a print publication thatcomprises at least a portion of the content and the scannable code. 13.The system of claim 10, wherein the instructions, when executed, causethe system to perform operations comprising: detecting a transactionassociated with the online publication; and compensating the publisherbased at least in part on the transaction.
 14. The system of claim 13,wherein the instructions to compensate the publisher, when executed,further cause the system to perform operations comprising: compensatingthe publisher based at least in part on the transaction being a saletransaction or an account registration transaction.
 15. The system ofclaim 14, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the system toperform operations comprising: compensating the publisher a highercompensation for the sale transaction than for the account registrationtransaction.
 16. The system of claim 10, wherein the content is an itemlisting that includes at least one of a title, a keyword, a sales price,and an item description.
 17. The system of claim 10, wherein thescannable code comprises a barcode.
 18. A non-transitorymachine-readable storage medium comprising processor executableinstructions that, when executed by a processor of a machine, cause themachine to perform operations comprising: receiving a publicationrequest that identifies content to be published in an onlinepublication; generating a scannable code that encodes a network addressfor the online publication; transmitting the scannable code to apublisher; receiving, from a user device, a retrieval request comprisingthe network address corresponding to the scannable code; and causingpresentation of the online publication by the user device based at leastin part on the retrieval request.
 19. The non-transitorymachine-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the instructions toreceive the retrieval request, when executed by the processor of themachine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising: receivingthe retrieval request comprising the network address that comprises astring of characters; and mapping the string of characters to a secondnetwork address, wherein causing presentation of the online publicationby the user device is based at least in part on the second networkaddress.
 20. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim18, wherein the instructions to transmit the scannable code to thepublisher, when executed by the processor of the machine, cause themachine to perform operations comprising: transmitting the scannablecode to the publisher along with an instruction to generate a printpublication that comprises at least a portion of the content and thescannable code.
 21. The non-transitory machine-readable storage mediumof claim 18, wherein the scannable code comprises a barcode.